3. Contributions to an Up-Date of the Red List of Wild Species from The

Scientific Annals of the Danube Delta Institute Tulcea, Romania vol. 20 2014

Section I. Biodiversity, taxonomy, nature conservation Research article pp. 17 – 34 doi: 10.7427/DDI.20.03

Contributions to an up-date of the Red List of wild species from the 3. Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. Part II. Reptiles TÖRÖK Zsolt Csaba

Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development: 165 Babadag street, Tulcea - 820112, Romania; e-mail: [email protected]

BSTRACT.Up to the present in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR) there were recorded 12 native reptile species. The first Red List of the wild species from DDBR was drafted in 1999 and printed in 2000. Based on the results of investigations carried out since A2000 and taking into account the developments related to criteria for conservation status of wild species (on world-wide level, on European continental level, on EU level and on national level), the present work provides details on the proposals to consider the following conservations status to amphibians occurring in the DDBR: Testudo graeca (rare species in the DDBR) – Vulnerable status; Emys orbicularis (relatively common species in the DDBR) - Vulnerable status; Lacerta agilis (relatively common species on some marine levees) - Least Concern status; Lacerta trilineata (a rare species in the DDBR) - Vulnerable status; Lacerta viridis (rare species in the DDBR) - Least Concern status; Podarcis tauricus (occurs along the continental limit of the DDBR and on few marine levees of the lagoonary area) - Least Concern status; Eremias arguta (occurs only on the main marine levees) - Threatened status; Coluber caspius (rare species in the DDBR) - Vulnerable status; Coronella austriaca (rare species in the DDBR) - Vulnerable status; Natrix natrix (relatively common species in DDBR) - Least Concern status; Natrix tessellata (relatively frequent in the lagoonary area and rare in the proper Danube Delta) - Vulnerable status; Vipera ursinii (rare species in the DDBR) - Critically endangered status.

Key words: reptiles, conservation status, Red List, Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, Romania

INTRODUCTION

Shortly after the establishment of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (further referred to as DDBR) [74], starting with 1991 there was carried out a multy-annual wild-species inventory [46], the respective investigations being extensive ones in the first few years ([32]; [45]), but up to 1998 they were performed systematically enough to provide the necessary scientific background for the first draft of a Red List on wild plants and animals of the DDBR - the document being compiled in 1999 (with the support of the Romanian central authority for scientfic research) by the specialists of Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development and external experts of the mentioned institute. The respective material was printed in 2000 and included details on 11 species of reptiles from DDBR [47].

Up to the present there were published Red Lists related to few other protected areas from Romania. According to our knowledge, only in two cases were printed Red Lists: in 2006 for Măcin Mountains National Park [66] and in 2013 for Rodnei Mountains National Park (which is also a Biosphere Reserve) [24]. Furthermore, there were Red List proposals for various areas, as the Criș river basin [49] or the valley of the middle and lower sections of the Prut river valley [81].

Since 2000, in the DDBR there were carried out various qualitative (faunistical) [54], quantitative ([30]; [58]; [71] etc.) and even genetical studies ([18]; [19]; [20] etc.) related to the reptiles. Also, standardization of the methods for assessing the reptile populations was performed at national level [65], respectively for the DDBR area [61]. Furthermore, there were changes in the criteria to assess the conservation status of the species [83], followed by works adapting the respective criteria to continental [12] or national level ([22]; [23]). Consequently, the present paper shows the results of analyses aiming to up-date the section related to conservation status of reptile species from the DDBR (a proposal for up-dating the status of amphibians from DDBR was published in 2013 [62]).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the frame of projects developed in 2009 - 2013 period (the official titles of the projects are provided at the ”Acknowledgement” section of the present paper) there were analysed: - the results of investigations on reptiles, carried out since 2000 in the DDBR area; - the developments related to criteria for conservation status of reptiles – on World level and an European level; - the proposals on conservation status of reptile species at country (Romania) level.

Taking into account the above mentioned elements, there were developed proposals for the current conservation status of reptile species from DDBR.

Related to two species of reptiles from the DDBR area there are debates related to the taxonomic status of the Large Whip Snake and the Steppe Viper.

In case of the Large Whip Snake, the populations inhabiting a region which includes some sites from the southern parts of the DDBR were considered as belonging: a). (in 1921) to subspecies Zamenis gemonensis caspius Iwan – [38]. We have to note that ”Iwan” is not the name, but the given name of the Russian naturalist Иван Иванович ЛЕПЕХИН (Ivan Ivanovich LEPECHIN) who mentioned (at pages 513 and 514 of his journal published in 1771 [36]) a whipsnake found 9 – 19 August 1769 in the steppe areas from Yaitsky (currently Uralks,

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in Kazakhstan), also providing a short desciption of the specimen, in Latin (”Coluber, inferne totus flavus, superne lineis flavis fuscisque alternatim positis distinctus, scutis abdominalibus CXCVIII, squamis subcaudalibus in una serie C” - page 514 in [36]), respectively a drawing of the snake (Fig. 1.); b). (in 1923) to subspecies Coluber caspius caspius (Gmelin, 1789) – [39]. Actually, Johann Friedrich Gmelin described Coluber caspius (Fig. 2.), mentioning that Lepechin indicated as ”Coluber” the specimen recorded nearby the Caspian Sea shore (see details at position No. 298 at page 1112 in [17]); b). (in 1961) to subspecies Coluber jugularis caspius Gmelin, 1789 – [16]; c). (after 1990, generally) to subspecies Coluber caspius Gmelin, 1789 – [32]; d). (proposed after 2000) to species Dolichophis caspius (Gmelin, 1789) ([40]; [41]; [42]).

Taking into account that the most recent, nature protection related regulations are referring to the Large Whipe Snake as Coluber caspius ([75]; [77]), in the present paper we will also will use Coluber caspius as scientific name of the Large Whipe Snakes occurring in the DDBR area.

Fig. 1. Drawing of a Large Whip Snake – recorded at Uralsk Fig. 2. Copy of the section considered as being the first by И. ЛЕПЕХИН [36]. scientific description of Coluber caspius [17].

Fig. 4. Areas populated by species of Vipera genus – Fig. 3. Distribution of Vipera-populations – according to Raoul according to Vancea and Ionescu, 1954. Călinescu. Note. 1 – distribution area of Vipera ursinii ursinii; 2 – distribution Note. 1 – Vipera ammodytes ammodytes; 2 – Vipera ammodytes area of Vipera ursinii renardi; 3 – zones where the distribution areas montandoni; 3 – Vipera renardi; 4 – Vipera ursinii. Source of Vipera ursinii ursinii and of Vipera ursinii renardi are overlapping. background map: Călinescu, 1931 [6]. Source of background map: Vancea and Ionescu, 1954 [67].

In case of the Steppe Viper, the populations inhabiting a region which includes some sites from the southern parts of the DDBR were considered as belonging: a). (in 1912) to species Vipera berus – the first viper specimen (probably captured in the first decade of the XXth century) reported from the Danube Delta was considered as being Adder (V. berus) [1]; b). (in 1931) to subspecies Vipera ursinii macrops Méhely, 1911 – R. Călinescu, after analysing the respective biological materials (assumed to be the ones collected in the Danube Delta), concluded that the specimen (preserved with an Adder in a jug labeled with ”Danube Delta”) seems to belong to subspecies V. ursinii macrops, mentioning that the examined specimen was may be captured outside of Romania – for this reason Călinescu did not even indicate the presence of vipers in the Danube Delta or in the Razim-Sinoe the lagoonary area (Fig. 3.) [6]; c). (in 1937) to species Vipera renardi (Christoph, 1861) – M. Băcescu studied some specimens (captured in the Danube Delta, in June 1935 and July 1937) and stated that the respective spakes are Vipera renardi, although some of their morphological

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features is a mixture between the characteristics that are specific to V. renardi and the ones specific to V. ursinii (Bonaparte, 1835) [3]; d). (in 1954) to an intermediate form between Vipera ursinii renardi and Vipera ursinii ursinii – Șt. Vancea and V. Ionescu considered that the Danube Delta is an area where the distribution area of subspecies Vipera ursinii ursinii is overlapping with the distribution area of subspecies V. ursinii renardi, meanwhile in the Razim-Sinoe lagoonary system there are populations belonging to subspecies V. ursinii ursinii (Fig. 4.) [67]; e). (in 1961) to subspecies Vipera ursinii renardi (Christoph, 1861) – based on the results of morphological studies, B. Stugren concluded (in a paper published in 1961) that the viper-populations from the Danube Delta belong to subspecies V. ursinii renardi [50]. The same issue - namely, that in the Danube Delta and the Razim-Sinoe area there are Vipera ursinii renardi (Christoph, 1861) populations - is stated in works of various authors, published in 1961 ([16]; [35]), 1980 [68], 1984 [13], 1985 [69], 1989 [14], 1993 [31], 1994 [32], 1997 [28], 2000 [47], 2005 [23] - although in some of the mentioned sources is specified that there are (inclusively statistically) significant differences between the vipers from the Danube Delta area and the ones belonging to subspecies Vipera ursinii renardi ([28]; [69]); f). (in 1993) to subspecies Vipera ursinii moldavica Nilson, Andren et Joger, 1993: based on the results of a biochemical and immunological study (performed on samples of a viper-population from Valea lui David - Iași county [26]), Nilson and colleagues described the subspecies Vipera ursinii moldavica, present in the eastern part of Romania, mentioning that ”the Danube population should also be included in this new taxon” [44]. The same issue - namely, that in the Danube Delta and the Razim-Sinoe lagoonary system there are populations of Vipera ursinii moldavica Nilson, Andren et Joger, 1993 - is stated in works of various authors, published in 2001 [43], 2002 [29], 2004 [18], 2006 [19], 2007 [20] and 2012 [15].

In the present paper we are considering the Steppe Viper populations from the DDBR area as belonging to the subspecies Vipera ursinii moldavica Nilson, Andren et Joger, 1993.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Up to the present there are reliable data on the presence in the DDBR of 12 reptile species.

We did not include into the list of reptiles from DDBR those taxa in case of which their presence is based on doubtful data, as the record of Podarcis muralis, Eryx jaculus etc. Details on various doubtful records from the DDBR area are available in a work published in 2012 [60]. Also, there were not taken into account information on the occurrence of some species based only on specimens preserved in museal collections (as Caretta caretta, Ablepharus kitaibelii, Elaphe longissima etc.), captured (or believed to be captured in areas belonging in the present to the DDBR) several decades ago, without recent records in the field of the respective species.

Details and the reptile taxa currently present in the DDBR are provided in the paragraphs below.

1. Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758

According to the Bern Convention, the species is ”strictly protected”, being listed in Annex II of the convention [73] – the same status is provided to the species by the Romanian Act No. 13/1993 [76]. Testudo graeca is nominated in Annex II of the EU Council Directive 92/43/EEC [75] (respectively, of the EU Council Directive 2006/105/EC [77]), consequently is considered a ”Species of Community Interest whose conservation requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation” ([75]; [77]) – the same status is ensured at national level by a regulation issued in 2007 by the Romanian Government [80]. Furthermore, Testudo graeca is nominated in Annex IV of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC [75] (respectively, of the EU Council Directive 2006/105/EC [77]), consequently is considered a ”Species of Community Interest in need of strict protection” ([75]; [77]) – the same status is ensured at national level by a regulation issued in 2007 by the Romanian Government [80].

Concerning the conservative status of Testudo graeca, the species was considered as having: - at World level: ”Vulnerable” status (date of assessment: 01.VIII.1996) [83]; - at European (continental) level: ”Vulnerable” status [12]; - at European Union (EU27) level: ”Vulnerable” status [12]; - at national level: ”Endangered” status in 1993 (assessment based on data available up to 1992) [7], in 2003 (assessment based on data available up to 2000) [22], in 2005 (assessment based on data available up to - at about - 2004) [23] and in 2009 (assessment based on data available up to 2009) [52]; - in the DDBR: ”Vulnerable” status (proposed in 2000) [47].

Testudo graeca is present in the south-eastern part of Romania, in the Steppic and Black Sea (Pontic) European biogeographical regions (Fig. 5.) [57], roughly in the areas mentioned in the Romanian monography published in the early 60’s [16]. Out of the more than 1,159 occurrence records of Testudo graeca on which is based the map shown in a synthetical work published in 2013 [8] we have selected the ones in case of which there were details (on the day or year of observation and on the concrete source of local information) available in various publications or it was possible to find out the respective details from the authors of the field-records (in case of the unpublished data). These records are scattered over 68 administrative territories shown in Fig. 5.

Testudo graeca is a rare species in the DDBR and, according to our knowledge, it was recorded in the following areas (Fig. 6.): - at Grindul Saele: northern part of the marine levee (on the territory of Histria Museal Complex) (some of the most recent record being made on 6 VI. 2013 by Zs. Török, unpublished data) and southern edge of the marine levee (at the contact zone with the Dobrogean continental plateau) (some of the most recent records being made on 24 VIII. 2008 by Zs. Török, unpublished data); - at Grindul Chituc: southern half of the marine levee (on dunes, few hundred meters westward of the Black Sea shore) (one of the recent records being made on 23 VIII. 2009 by Zs. Török, unpublished data); - at the continental limit of the DDBR, nearby Eraclea hill (close to Enisala village) [53] and at Cape Tasburun [47].

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The main, human induced threats faced by Testudo graeca in the DDBR are: - the illegal collection of specimens (a phenomenon known since the early ‘80s, especially at Histria area ([21]); - the deliberate killings of specimens (considering the remnants of tortoises found with injuries caused by humans); - the roadkillings (sporadical events, occurring mostly on roads from the soutern end of the DDBR).

Taking into account the above mentioned aspects, we propose the following conservation status for the Testudo graeca populations form the DDBR: Vulnerable.

Fig. 5. Administrative territories where there are reliable records of Fig. 6. Record sites of Testudo graeca in the Danube natural populations of Testudo graeca. Delta Biosphere Reserve. Note. grey areas - administrative territories from where the occurrence of Note. white dots – sites where Testudo graeca specimens Testudo graeca was reported up to now; black, thick lines – limits of were recorded; black, thick line – limits of the DDBR. European biogeographical regions in Romania.

Fig. 7. Administrative territories where there are reliable records of Fig. 8. Record sites of Emys orbicularis in the Danube natural populations of Emys orbicularis. Delta Biosphere Reserve. Note. grey areas - administrative territories from where the occurrence of Note. white dots – sites where Emys orbicularis specimens Emys orbicularis was reported up to now; black, thick lines – limits of were recorded; black, thick line – limits of the Danube Delta European biogeographical regions in Romania. Biosphere Reserve.

2. Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758)

According to the Bern Convention, the species is ”strictly protected”, being listed in Annex II of the convention [73] – the same status is provided to the species by the Romanian Act No. 13/1993 [76]. Emys orbicularis is nominated in Annex II of the EU Council Directive 92/43/EEC [75] (respectively, the of EU Council Directive 2006/105/EC [77]), consequently is considered a ”Species of Community Interest whose conservation requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation” ([75]; [77]) – the same status is ensured at national level by a regulation issued in 2007 by the Romanian Government [80]. Furthermore, Emys orbicularis is nominated in Annex IV of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC [75] (respectively, of the EU Council Directive 2006/105/EC [77]), consequently is considered a ”Species of Community Interest in need of strict protection” ([75]; [77]) – the same status is ensured at national level by a regulation issued in 2007 by the Romanian Government [80].

Concerning the conservative status of Emys orbicularis, the species was considered as having: - at World level: ”Lower Risk/near threatened” status (date of assessment: 01.VIII.1996) [83];

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- at European (continental) level: ”Near Threatened” status [12]; - at European Union (EU27) level: ”Vulnerable” status [12]; - at national level: ”Vulnerable” status in 1993 (assessment based on data available up to 1992) [7], in 2003 (assessment based on data available up to 2000) [22], in 2005 (assessment based on data available up to - at about - 2004) [23] and in 2009 (assessment based on data available up to 2009) [52]; - in the DDBR: ”Vulnerable” status (proposed in 2000) [47].

Emys orbicularis is present all-over Romania, being less frequent in the mountains (Fig. 7). Out of the 753 occurrence records of Emys orbicularis on which is based the map shown in a synthetical work published in 2013 [8] we have selected the ones in case of which there were details (on the day or year of observation and on the concrete source of local information) available in various publications or it was possible to find out the respective details from the authors of the field-records (in case of the unpublished data). These records are scattered over 391 administrative territories shown in Fig. 7.

Emys orbicularis was recorded in most of the aquatc habitats from the DDBR [47], being relatively common species of this region (Fig. 8).

The main, human induced threats faced by Emys orbicularis in the DDBR are: - the frequent killing of specimens accidentally captured by nets used for harvesting fish of commercial interest; - the deliberate killings of specimens (in most cases a habit of fishermen and anglers); - the roadkillings (occurring on roads from the southern half of the DDBR) [64]; - the fall into holes of various industrial infrastructures (both abbandoned ones or the ones that are in current use) that are functioning as traps [64]; - changes in the structure of habitats populated by this species.

Taking into account the above mentioned aspects, we propose the following conservation status for the Emys orbicularis populations form the DDBR: Vulnerable.

3. Lacerta agilis Linnaeus, 1758

According to the Bern Convention, the species is ”strictly protected”, being listed in Annex II of the convention [73] - the same status is provided to the species by the Romanian Act No. 13/1993 [76]. Lacerta agilis is nominated in Annex IV of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC [75] (respectively, of the EU Council Directive 2006/105/EC [77]), consequently is considered a ”Species of Community Interest in need of strict protection” ([75]; [77]) – the same status is ensured at national level by a regulation issued in 2007 by the Romanian Government [80].

Concerning the conservative status of Lacerta agilis, the species was considered as having: - at World level: ”Least Concern” status (date of assessment: 30.VI.2009) [83]; - at European (continental) level: ”Least Concern” status [12]; - at European Union (EU27) level: ”Least Concern” status [12]; - at national level: ”Vulnerable” status in 1993 (assessment based on data available up to 1992) [7] and ”Least Concern” status in 2003 (assessment based on data available up to 2000) [22]; - in the DDBR: ”Not threatened” status (proposed in 2000) [47].

Lacerta agilis is present all-over Romania, being less frequent in the mountains (in comparison with its frequency in hills and plains (Fig. 9). Out of the 2,554 occurrence records of Lacerta agilis on which is based the map shown in a synthetical work published in 2013 [8] we have selected the ones in case of which there were details (on the day or year of observation and on the concrete source of local information) available in various publications or it was possible to find out the respective details from the authors of the field-records (in case of the unpublished data). These records are scattered over 892 administrative territories (Fig. 9). We have to note that the number of administrative territories from where the species was recorded up to 2013 significantly increased in comparison with the situation known till 2007 (when there were occurrence data from 1856 – 2007 period from only 613 administrative territories [59]), the difference suggesting the intesification of field-investigations in the last few years (since 2008).

Lacerta agilis is a relatively common species on some of the main marine levees (Grindul Saraturile-Sfantu Gheorghe, Grindul Periteasca-Perisor, Grindul Lupilor, Grindul Saele, Grindul Chituc), meanwhile in other marine levees (Grindul Letea, Grindul Caraorman etc.) the species is frequent only in some parts of the respective sand-spits and also occurs in habitats along the Sulina branch and Tulcea branch, and in some areas along the continental limit of the Razim-Sinoe lagoonary area (Fig. 10).

The main, human induced threats faced by Lacerta agilis in the DDBR are: - changes in the structure of habitats populated by this species; - urbanisation (including destruction of habitats due to civil works) – the main areas where Lacerta agilis populations are threatened by this factor are Sulina area (especially the coastal sand dunes), Crisan area, Sfântu Gheorghe area (the South-Eastern part of Saraturile-Sfantu Gheorghe marine levee) and the South-Eastern part of Chituc marine levee.

Taking into account the above mentioned aspects, we propose the following conservation status for the Lacerta agilis populations form the DDBR: Least Concern.

4. Lacerta trilineata Bedriaga, 1886

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Community Interest in need of strict protection” ([75]; [77]) – the same status is ensured at national level by a regulation issued in 2007 by the Romanian Government [80].

Fig. 9. Administrative territories where there are reliable records of Fig. 10. Record sites of Lacerta agilis in the Danube natural populations of Lacerta agilis. Delta Biosphere Reserve. Note. grey areas - administrative territories from where the occurrence of Note. white dots – sites where Lacerta agilis specimens Lacerta agilis was reported up to now; black, thick lines – limits of European were recorded; black, thick line – limits of the Danube Delta biogeographical regions in Romania. Biosphere Reserve.

Fig. 11. Administrative territories where there are reliable records of Fig. 12. Record sites of Lacerta trilineata in the natural populations of Lacerta trilineata. Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. Note. grey areas - administrative territories from where the occurrence of Note. white dots – sites where Lacerta trilineata specimens Lacerta trilineata was reported up to now; black, thick lines – limits of were recorded; black, thick line – limits of the Danube Delta European biogeographical regions in Romania. Biosphere Reserve.

Concerning the conservative status of Lacerta trilineata, the species was considered as having: - at World level: ”Least Concern” status (date of assessment: 14.XII.2008) [83]; - at European (continental) level: ”Least Concern” status [12]; - at European Union (EU27) level: ”Least Concern” status [12]; - at national level: ”Vulnerable” status in 1993 (assessment based on data available up to 1992) [7], respectively ”Endangered” status in 2003 (assessment based on data available up to 2000) [22] and in 2005 (assessment based on data available up to - at about - 2004) [23]; - in the DDBR: ”Vulnerable” status (proposed in 2000) [47].

Lacerta trilineata is present in the south-eastern part of Romania, mostly in the Steppic European biogeographical region, just few of the sites inhabited by the species being along the western border of the Black Sea (Pontic) European biogeographical region (Fig. 7) [57]. The species occurrs roughly in the area delimited in the Romanian monography published in the early 60’s [16]. In order to set-up the distribution-map (shown in Fig. 11) of the species we have used 137 occurence records (both published and unpublished data). These records are scattered over 40 administrative territories (Fig. 11). We have to note that the number of administrative territories from where the species was recorded up to 2013 is just a little bit higher than the one known till 2007 (when there were occurrence data from 1863 – 2007 period from a total number of 30 administrative territories [59]).

Lacerta trilineata is a rare species in the DDBR, being present only in some habitats located along the continental limit of the Razim-Sinoe lagoonary area and few sites nearby the Sfantu Gheorghe branch and Tulcea branch (Fig. 12).

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The main, human induced threats faced by Lacerta trilineata in the DDBR are: - changes in the structure of habitats populated by this species. The human-induced habitat changes have less importance, due to the fact that the species populate those habitats that are not suitable for agricultural or other practices.

Taking into account the above mentioned aspects, we propose the following conservation status for the Lacerta trilineata populations form the DDBR: Vulnerable.

5. Lacerta viridis (Laurenti, 1768)

Concerning the conservative status of Lacerta viridis, the species was considered as having: - at World level: ”Least Concern” status (date of assessment: 14.XII.2008) [83]; - at European (continental) level: - ”Least Concern” status [12]; - at European Union (EU27) level: - ”Least Concern” status [12]; - at national level: ”Vulnerable” status in 1993 (assessment based on data available up to 1992) [7] and ”Least Concern” status in 2003 (assessment based on data available up to 2000) [22]; - in the DDBR: status of Lacerta viridis has not been assessed up to the present work.

Lacerta viridis is present all-over Romania, being less frequent in the mountains (Fig. 13). Out of the 2,737 occurrence records of Lacerta viridis on which is based the map shown in a synthetical work published in 2013 [8] we have selected the ones in case of which there were details (on the day or year of observation and on the concrete source of local information) available in various publications or it was possible to find out the respective details from the authors of the field-records (in case of the unpublished data). These records are scattered over 629 administrative territories shown in Fig. 13. We have to note that the number of administrative territories from where the species was recorded up to 2013 significantly increased in comparison with the situation known till 2007 (when there were occurrence data from 1856 – 2007 period from only 446 administrative territories [59]), the difference suggesting the intesification of field-investigations in the last few years (since 2008).

Lacerta viridis is a rare species in the DDBR, being present only in few sites located along the continental limit of the Razim-Sinoe lagoonary area, respectively nearby the Tulcea branch (Fig. 14).

The main, human induced threats faced by Lacerta viridis in the DDBR are: - changes in the structure of habitats populated by this species. The human-induced habitat changes have less importance, due to the fact that the species populate those habitats that are not suitable for agricultural or other practices.

Taking into account the above mentioned aspects, we propose the following conservation status for the Lacerta viridis populations form the DDBR: Least Concern.

6. Podarcis tauricus (Pallas, 1814)

Concerning the conservative status of Podarcis tauricus, the species was considered as having: - at World level: ”Least Concern” status (date of assessment: 14.XII.2008) [83]; - at European (continental) level: ”Least Concern” [12]; - at European Union (EU27) level: ”Least Concern” [12]; - at national level: ”Vulnerable” status in 1993 (assessment based on data available up to 1992) [7], respectively ”Near Threatened” status in 2003 (assessment based on data available up to 2000) [22] and in 2005 (assessment based on data available up to - at about - 2004) [23]; - in the DDBR: ”Not threatened” status (proposed in 2000) [47].

Podarcis tauricus is present in the southern and north-western parts of Romania (Fig. 15), mostly in the south-eastern half of the Steppic European biogeographical region [57], the other record sites being widely scattered in the Continental European biogeographical region, respectively grouped on a relatively small area from the northern part of the Romanian section of the Pannonian biogeographical region ([10]; [11]). In a work published in 1975 the species was also mentiond as occurring in an area from the south-western part of the Alpine biogeographical region [51], but is highly possible that the information is based on a wrong identification of the species (as happened in case of several unreliable records from DDBR [60]). Out of the 1,399 occurrence records of Podarcis tauricus on which is based the map shown in a synthetical work published in 2013 [8] we have selected the ones in case of which there were details (on the day or year of observation and on the concrete source of local information) available in various publications or it was possible to find out the respective details from the authors of the field-records (in case of the unpublished data). Also, few questionable records [51] were also taken into account (the ones the tip of the arrow points to in Fig. 15). All these records are scattered over 150 administrative territories shown in Fig. 15. We have to note that the

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Podarcis tauricus is a relatively rare species in the DDBR, being present in few sites from the continental limit of the Danube valley and of the Razim-Sinoe lagoonary area and on few marine levees from the southern part of the on some of the Razim-Sinoe lagoonary area (Grindul Lupilor, Grindul Saele and Grindul Chituc) (Fig. 16).

The main, human induced threats faced by Podarcis tauricus in the DDBR are: - changes in the structure of habitats populated by this species. The human-induced habitat changes have less importance, due to the fact that the species populate those habitats that are not suitable for agricultural or other practices.

Taking into account the above mentioned aspects, we propose the following conservation status for the Podarcis taurica populations form the DDBR: Least Concern.

Fig. 13. Administrative territories where there are reliable records of Fig. 14. Record sites of Lacerta viridis in the Danube natural populations of Lacerta viridis. Delta Biosphere Reserve. Note. grey areas - administrative territories from where the occurrence of Note. white dots – sites where Lacerta viridis specimens Lacerta viridis was reported up to now; black, thick lines – limits of European were recorded; black, thick line – limits of the Danube Delta biogeographical regions in Romania. Biosphere Reserve.

Fig. 15. Administrative territories where there are records of natural Fig. 16. Record sites of Podarcis tauricus in the populations of Podarcis tauricus. Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. Note. grey areas - administrative territories from where the occurrence of Note. white dots – sites where Podarcis tauricus specimens Podarcis tauricus was reported up to now; black, thick lines – limits of were recorded; black, thick line – limits of the Danube Delta European biogeographical regions in Romania; the arrow in the map points Biosphere Reserve. to the administrative territories from where there were records (published in 1975) [51], but without possibility to check-out the reliability of data.

7. Eremias arguta (Gmelin, 1789)

According to the Bern Convention, the species is a ”protected” one, considered as being included into Annex III of the convention (annex that includes all reptile taxa that are not nominated in Annex II) [73] – the same status (”protected”) is provided to the species by the Romanian Act No. 13/1993 [76]. Eremias arguta is listed in Annex 4B of the Government Emergency Ordinance No. 57/2007 [80] and, consequently, has the status of ”Species of National Interest in need of strict protection” [80].

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Concerning the conservative status of Eremias arguta, the species was considered as having: - at World level: status of Eremias arguta has not yet been assessed for the IUCN Red List [83]; - at European (continental) level: ”Near Threatened” status [12]; - at European Union (EU27) level: ”Vulnerable” status [12]; - at national level: ”Endangered” status in 1993 (assessment based on data available up to 1992) [7], in 2003 (assessment based on data available up to 2000) [22] and in 2005 (assessment based on data available up to - at about - 2004) [23]; - in the DDBR: ”Vulnerable” status (proposed in 2000) [47].

Eremias arguta is present in the south-eastern part of Romania, in the Steppic and the Black Sea (Pontic) European biogeographical regions (Fig. 17) [57]. The species occurs roughly in the area delimited in the Romanian monography published in the early 60’s [16]. Out of the 85 occurrence records of Eremias arguta on which is based the map shown in a synthetical work published in 2013 [8] we have selected the ones in case of which there were details (on the day or year of observation and on the concrete source of local information) available in various publications or it was possible to find out the respective details from the authors of the field-records (in case of the unpublished data) These records are scattered over 13 administrative territories (Fig. 17). We have to note that the number of administrative territories from where the species was recorded up to 2013 is just a little bit higher than the one known till 2007 (when there were occurrence data from 1901 – 2007 period from a total number of 12 administrative territories [59]).

Eremias arguta is present only on sand dunes with scarce vegetation from all of the main marine levees of the DDBR (Grindul Letea, Grindul Caraorman, Grindul Saraturile-Sfantu Gheorghe, Grindul Peritasca-Perisor, Grindul Lupilor and Grindul Chituc) (Fig. 18). The species is rare on the marine levees from the northern part of the DDBR (Grindul Letea and Grindul Caraorman), but the local populations from the southern part of the DDBR can have high densities on some of the coastal dunes ([58]; [63]).

The main, human induced threats faced by Eremias arguta in the DDBR are: - changes in the structure of habitats populated by this species; - urbanisation (including destruction of habitats due to civil works) – the main areas where Eremias arguta populations are threatened by this factor are Sfântu Gheorghe area (the south-eastern part of Saraturile-Sfantu Gheorghe marine levee) and the south-eastern part of Chituc marine levee.

Taking into account the above mentioned aspects, we propose the following conservation status for the Eremias arguta populations form the DDBR: Threatened.

8. Coluber caspius (Gmelin, 1789)

According to the Bern Convention, the species (mentioned as Coluber jugularis) is ”strictly protected”, being listed in Annex II of the convention [73] – the same status is provided to the species (mentioned as Coluber jugularis) by the Romanian Act No. 13/1993 [76]. Coluber caspius is nominated (as Coluber jugularis) in Annex IV of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC [75] (respectively, of the EU Council Directive 2006/105/EC [77]), consequently is considered a ”Species of Community Interest in need of strict protection” ([75]; [77]) – the same status is ensured at national level by a regulation issued in 2007 by the Romanian Government [80]. Furthermore, Coluber caspius (nominated as Coluber jugularis) is listed in Annex 4B of the Government Emergency Ordinance No. 57/2007 [80] and, consequently, has the status of ”Species of National Interest in need of strict protection” [80].

Concerning the conservative status of Coluber caspius, the species was considered as having: - at World level: status of Coluber caspius has not yet been assessed for the IUCN Red List [83]; - at European (continental) level: ”Least Concern” [12]; - at European Union (EU27) level: ”Least Concern” [12]; - at national level: ”Vulnerable” status in 1993 (assessment based on data available up to 1992) [7], in 2003 (assessment based on data available up to 2000) [22] and in 2005 (assessment based on data available up to - at about - 2004) [23]; - in the DDBR: ”Vulnerable” status (proposed in 2000) [47].

Coluber caspius is present in the southern half of Romania, mostly in the Steppic European biogeographical region, the other record sites being widely scattered in the southern part of the Continental biogeographical region and few of the occurrence data are from the Black Sea (Pontic) European biogeographical region (Fig. 19). In a work published in 1975 the species was also mentiond as occurring in an area from the south-western part of the Alpine biogeographical region [51], but is highly possible that the information is based on a wrong identification of the species (as happened in case of several unreliable records from DDBR [60]). Out of the 351 occurrence records of Coluber caspius on which is based the map shown in a synthetical work published in 2013 [8] we have selected the ones in case of which there were details (on the day or year of observation and on the concrete source of local information) available in various publications or it was possible to find out the respective details from the authors of the field-records (in case of the unpublished data). Also, few quetionable records [51], were also taken into account (the ones the tip of the arrow points to in Fig. 19). All these records are scattered over 112 administrative territories shown in Fig. 19.

Coluber caspius is a rare species in the DDBR, being present in few sites from the continental limit of the Danube valley and of the Razim-Sinoe lagoonary area [47] and on few marine levees from the southern part of the on some of the Razim-Sinoe lagoonary area as Grindul Saele (in the northern part of the marine levee (on the territory of Histria Museal Complex and southern part of the marine levee, at the contact zone with the Dobrogean continental plateau - Zs. Török, published data) and Grindul Chituc (on dunes from southern end of the marine levee, few hundred meters westward of the Black Sea shore – one of the recent records being made on 6 VI. 2013 by Zs. Török, unpublished data) (Fig. 20).

The main, human induced threats faced by Coluber caspius in the DDBR are: - the deliberate killings of specimens (in most cases a habit of local people, probably in some cases also visitors are killing the specimens they met during the field-trips).

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Taking into account the above mentioned aspects, we propose the following conservation status for the Coluber caspius populations form the DDBR: Vulnerable.

Fig. 17. Administrative territories where there are reliable records of Fig. 18. Record sites of Eremias arguta in the Danube natural populations of Eremias arguta. Delta Biosphere Reserve. Note. grey areas - administrative territories from where the occurrence of Note. white dots – sites where Eremias arguta specimens Eremias arguta was reported up to now; black, thick lines – limits of were recorded; black, thick line – limits of the Danube Delta European biogeographical regions in Romania. Biosphere Reserve.

Fig. 19. Administrative territories where there are records of natural Fig. 20. Record sites of Coluber caspius in the populations of Coluber caspius. Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. Note. grey areas - administrative territories from where the occurrence of Note. white dots – sites where Coluber caspius specimens Coluber caspius was reported up to now; black, thick lines – limits of were recorded; black, thick line – limits of the Danube Delta European biogeographical regions in Romania; the arrow in the map points Biosphere Reserve. to the administrative territories from where there were records (published in 1975) [51], but without possibility to check-out the reliability of data.

9. Coronella austriaca Laurenti, 1768

Concerning the conservative status of Coronella austriaca, the species was considered as having: - at World level: status of Coronella austriaca has not yet been assessed for the IUCN Red List [83]; - at European (continental) level: ”Least Concern” status [12]; - at European Union (EU27) level: ”Least Concern” status [12]; - at national level: ”Vulnerable” status in 1993 (assessment based on data available up to 1992) [7], in 2003 (assessment based on data available up to 2000) [22] and in 2005 (assessment based on data available up to - at about - 2004) [23]; - in the DDBR: ”Vulnerable” status (proposed in 2000) [47].

Coronella austriaca is present all-over Romania, being recorded less frequently in the southern and eastern regions of the country (Fig. 21). Out of the 527 occurrence records of Coronella austriaca on which is based the map shown in a synthetical work

L-ISSN: 1842 - 614X 26 www-address of the journal: http://www.ddni.ro/index.php?page_id=194&siteSection=6§ionTitle=Scientific%20Annals Scientific Annals of the Danube Delta Institute Tulcea, Romania vol. 20 2014 published in 2013 [8] we have selected the ones in case of which there were details (on the day or year of observation and on the concrete source of local information) available in various publications or it was possible to find out the respective details from the authors of the field-records (in case of the unpublished data). These records are scattered over 332 administrative territories shown in Fig. 21.

Coronella austriaca is a rare species in the DDBR, populating only some areas of two marine levees: Grindul Letea [47] and Grindul Chituc (southern half of the marine levee – one of the recent records being made on 27 VIII. 2013 by Zs. Török – unpublished data) (Fig. 22).

The main, human induced threats faced by Coronella austriaca in the DDBR are: - changes in the structure of habitats populated by this species; - urbanisation (including destruction of habitats due to civil works) – the main area where Coronella austriaca population is threatened by this factor is the south-eastern part of Chituc marine levee. - the roadkillings (occurring on roads from the southern half of the DDBR) - the main area where Coronella austriaca population is threatened by this factor is Chituc marine levee; - the deliberate killings of specimens (in most cases a habit of local people, probably in some cases also visitors are killing the specimens they met during the field-trips).

Taking into account the above mentioned aspects, we propose the following conservation status for the Coronella austriaca populations form the DDBR: Vulnerable.

Fig. 21. Administrative territories where there are reliable records of Fig. 22. Record sites of Coronella austriaca in the natural populations of Coronella austriaca. Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. Note. grey areas - administrative territories from where the occurrence of Note. white dots – sites where Coronella austriaca Coronella austriaca was reported up to now; black, thick lines – limits of specimens were recorded; black, thick line – limits of the European biogeographical regions in Romania. Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.

Fig. 23. Administrative territories where there are reliable records of Fig. 24. Record sites of Natrix natrix in the Danube natural populations of Natrix natrix. Delta Biosphere Reserve. Note. grey areas - administrative territories from where the occurrence of Note. white dots – sites where Natrix natrix specimens were Natrix natrix was reported up to now; black, thick lines – limits of European recorded; black, thick line – limits of the Danube Delta biogeographical regions in Romania. Biosphere Reserve.

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10. Natrix natrix (Linnaeus, 1758)

Concerning the conservative status of Natrix natrix, the species was considered as having: - at World level: - ”Lower Risk/near threatened” status (date of assessment: 01.VIII.1996) [83]; - at European (continental) level: ”Least Concern” status [12]; - at European Union (EU27) level: ”Least Concern” status [12]; - at national level: ”Vulnerable” status in 1993 (assessment based on data available up to 1992) [7] and ”Least Concern” status in 2003 (assessment based on data available up to 2000) [22]; - in the DDBR: ”Not threatened” status (proposed in 2000) [47].

Natrix natrix is present all-over Romania, being recorded less frequently in the southern region of the country (Fig. 23). Out of the 2,180 occurrence records of Natrix natrix on which is based the map shown in a synthetical work published in 2013 [8] we have selected the ones in case of which there were details (on the day or year of observation and on the concrete source of local information) available in various publications or it was possible to find out the respective details from the authors of the field-records (in case of the unpublished data). These records are scattered over 811 administrative territories shown in Fig. 23.

Natrix natrix was recorded in most of the habitats from the DDBR, being relatively common species of this region (Fig. 24).

The main, human induced threats faced by Natrix natrix in the DDBR are: - the deliberate killings of specimens (in most cases a habit of local people, probably in some cases also visitors are killing the specimens they met during the field-trips); - the roadkillings (occurring on roads from the southern half of the DDBR) [64]; - the fall into holes of various industrial infrastructures (both abbandoned ones or the ones that are in current use) that are functioning as traps [64].

Taking into account the above mentioned aspects, we propose the following conservation status for the Natrix natrix populations form the DDBR: Least Concern.

11. Natrix tessellata (Laurenti, 1768)

Concerning the conservative status of Natrix tessellata, the species was considered as having: - at World level: ”Least Concern” status (date of assessment: 30.VI.2009) [83]; - at European (continental) level: ”Least Concern” status [12]; - at European Union (EU27) level: ”Least Concern” status [12]; - at national level: ”Vulnerable” status in 1993 (assessment based on data available up to 1992) [7], ”Least Concern” status in 2003 (assessment based on data available up to 2000) [22] and ”Near Threatened” status in 2005 (assessment based on data available up to - at about - 2004) [23]; - in the DDBR: ”Not threatened” status (proposed in 2000) [23].

Natrix tessellata is present all-over Romania, being recorded less frequently in the eastern and southern regions of the country (Fig. 25). Out of the 843 occurrence records of Natrix tessellata on which is based the map shown in a synthetical work published in 2013 [8] we have selected the ones in case of which there were details (on the day or year of observation and on the concrete source of local information) available in various publications or it was possible to find out the respective details from the authors of the field-records (in case of the unpublished data). These records are scattered over 246 administrative territories shown in Fig. 25.

In the DDBR, Natrix tessellata is more frequent in the Razim-Sinoe lagoonary area, especially in sites with stony ground, but it also occurs in other parts of the DDBR (usually, also in sites with stony ground) (Fig. 26).

The main, human induced threats faced by Natrix tessellata in the DDBR are: - the deliberate killings of specimens (in most cases a habit of local people, probably in some cases also visitors are killing the specimens they met during the field-trips); - the roadkillings (occurring on roads from the southern half of the DDBR) [64];

Taking into account the above mentioned aspects, we propose the following conservation status for the Natrix tessellata populations form the DDBR: Vulnerable.

12. Vipera ursinii (Bonaparte, 1835)

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Directive 92/43/EEC [75] (respectively, of the EU Council Directive 2006/105/EC [77]), consequently is considered a ”Species of Community Interest whose conservation requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation” ([75]; [77]) – the same status is ensured at national level by a regulation issued in 2007 by the Romanian Government [80]. Vipera ursinii is nominated in Annex IV of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC [75] (respectively, of the EU Council Directive 2006/105/EC [77]), consequently is considered a ”Species of Community Interest in need of strict protection” ([75]; [77]) – the same status is ensured at national level by a regulation issued in 2007 by the Romanian Government [80].

Concerning the conservative status of Vipera ursinii, the species was considered as having: - at World level: ”Vulnerable” status (date of assessment: 14.XII.2008) [83]; - at European (continental) level: ”Vulnerable” status [12]; - at European Union (EU27) level: ”Vulnerable” status [12]; - at national level: ”Endangered” status in 1993 (assessment based on data available up to 1992) [7], respectively ”Critically Endangered” status in 2009 (assessment based on data available up to 2009) [52].

Vipera ursinii moldavica Nilson, Andrén et Joger, 1993.

According to the Bern Convention, the subspecies is ”strictly protected” (the term refers to all subspecies of Vipera ursinii), being listed in Annex II of the convention [73] – the same status is provided to the species by the Romanian Act No. 13/1993 [76].

Concerning the conservative status of Vipera ursinii moldavica, the subspecies was considered as having: - at World level: ”Critically Endangered” status (date of assessment: 01.08.1996) [83]; - at European (continental) level: status of the subspecies Vipera ursinii moldavica has not yet been assessed for the continental level; - at European Union (EU27) level: status of the subspecies Vipera ursinii moldavica has not yet been assessed for European Union level; - at national level: ”Critically Endangered” status in 2003 (assessment based on data available up to 2000) [22], in 2005 (assessment based on data available up to - at about - 2004) [23] and in 2009 (assessment based on data available up to 2009) [52]; - in the DDBR: ”Vulnerable” status (proposed in 2000; at the respective time the subspecies V. u. moldavica was mentioned as subspecies V. u. renardi) [47].

Vipera ursinii moldavica is present in the eastern parts of Romania, in the Steppic and Pontic (Black Sea) European biogeographical regions (Fig. 27) [56]. The species Vipera ursinii was reported as present in the Alpine European biogeographical region: from Bucegi mountains ([2]; [4]), the specimen (captured in 21 VI. 1933 [4]) being considered initially as belonging to subspecies Vipera ursinii macrops ([2]; [4]), but actually it was a specimen of Vipera berus ([16]; [35]) – consequently, in recent publications the respective area is not even mentioned as record-site of Vipera ursinii ([8]; [68]; [69]); the other questionable record from the Alpine European biogeographical region is represented by one snake specimen captured in V. 1957 at Rarău Mountain [69] - in other sources is mentioned that there were captured two specimens ([33]; [43]) - and it has been speculated that it belonged to subspecies Vipera ursinii ursinii ([14]; [69]), but the individual was lost from the collection (zoology laboratory of the Faculty of Biology – “Al. I. Cuza” University, Iași) where it was preserved [44]. In spite of the fact that the only material evidence was a photo supposed to be taken on the respective specimen, it was considered as belonging to subspecies Vipera ursinii moldavica ([34]; [43]) (the specimen from the picture having some of the morphological characters similar to the ones of subspecies Vipera ursinii macrops and other features similar to the subspecies Vipera ursinii moldavica [43]) or having questionable taxonomical position [33]. In recent publications the respective area is not even mentioned as record-site of Vipera ursinii [8].

In order to set-up the distribution-map (shown in Fig. 27) of the species we have used 61 occurence records (both published and unpublished data). These records are scattered over 12 administrative territories (Fig. 27). We have to note that the number of administrative territories from where the species was recorded up to 2013 is just a little bit higher than the one known till 2007 (when there were occurrence data from 1863 – 2007 period from a total number of 30 administrative territories [59]).

Vipera ursinii moldavica can be considered a rare species in DDBR, the populations of this subspecies inhabiting only the following three marine levees (Fig. 28): - Grindul Letea: southern part of the marine levee (area between C.A. Rosetti and Cardon – one of the recent records being made on 28 IV. 2012 [37]). Also, there are some old records from the northern part of the marine levee (nearby Periprava – VII. 1935 [3]); - Grindul Sărăturile-Sfântu Gheorghe – one of the recent records being made on 28 IX. 2013 [37]; - Grindul Perișor-Periteașca: north-eastern end (area toward Zătonul Mare lake) – one of the recent records being made on 18 VII. 2013 (Zs. Török, unpublished data). There are also some records made before 1961 [16] at Gura Portiței area, which is at the south-western end of Grindul Perișor-Periteașca.

The main, human induced threats faced by Vipera ursinii moldavica in the DDBR are: - the deliberate killings of specimens (in most cases a habit of local people, probably in some cases also visitors are killing the specimens they met during the field-trips); - changes (both natural ones and human-induced ones, including the increase in number of domestic animals [37]) in the structure of habitats populated by this species – these factors are threatening all Vipera ursinii moldavica populations from the DDBR; - urbanisation (including destruction of habitats due to civil works) – the main areas where Vipera ursinii moldavia population is threatened by this factor is Sfântu Gheorghe area (the South-Eastern part of Saraturile-Sfantu Gheorghe marine levee).

Taking into account the above mentioned aspects, we propose the following conservation status for the Vipera ursinii populations form the DDBR: Critically endangered.

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Fig. 25. Administrative territories where there are reliable records of Fig. 26. Record sites of Natrix tessellata in the natural populations of Natrix tessellata. Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. Note. grey areas - administrative territories from where the occurrence of Note. white dots – sites where Natrix tessellata specimens Natrix tessellata was reported up to now; black, thick lines – limits of were recorded; black, thick line – limits of the Danube Delta European biogeographical regions in Romania. Biosphere Reserve.

Fig. 27. Administrative territories where there are records of natural Fig. 28. Record sites of Vipera ursinii moldavica in the populations belonging to Vipera ursinii moldavica. Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. Note. grey areas - administrative territories from where the occurrence of Note. white dots – sites where Vipera ursinii moldavica Vipera ursinii moldavica was reported up to now; black, thick lines – limits of specimens were recorded; black, thick line – limits of the European biogeographical regions in Romania; the arrow in the map shows Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. the administrative territory from where there was a record (published in 1941) [5], but without possibility to check-out the reliability of data.

Species not included into the Red List of DDBR a). Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758)

The most recent record of Caretta caretta in the actual area of the DDBR is based on a specimen captured at about 45 years ago, in April 14th, 1968 [48]. Being the only one record of this species in the DDBR and taking into account the fact that Caretta caretta can be considered a vagrant species in the Black Sea, it was not included into the Red List of DDBR or into the national plan for monitoring the Species of Community Interest [65]. b). Ablepharus kitaibelii Bibron and Bory, 1833

Although in a paper Ablepharus kitaibelii was reported as species occurring in the DDBR [45], the respective record-site is outside of the present perimeter of the DDBR (along the edge of the Babadag forest, nearby Enisala). Taking into account that up to the submission of the present work there are no published information on the occurrence of the species in the DDBR, Ablepharus kitaibelii was not included into the Red List of DDBR, even if one of the target plots of the current national project for monitoring of the Species of Community Interest, where assessment of the Ablapharus kitaibelii populations was planned, includes some part of the DDBR (the plot from Beștepe Hills, indicated by the tip of arrow A in Fig. 29). c). Podarcis muralis (Laurenti, 1768)

Although in a paper Podarcis muralis was reported as species occurring in the DDBR [25] (respectively, at Histria ruins – see the plot indicated by the tip of arrow B in Fig. 30), the respective record was based on misidentification (Podarcis taurica specimens

L-ISSN: 1842 - 614X 30 www-address of the journal: http://www.ddni.ro/index.php?page_id=194&siteSection=6§ionTitle=Scientific%20Annals Scientific Annals of the Danube Delta Institute Tulcea, Romania vol. 20 2014 being identified by mistake as Podarcis muralis specimens) [60]. Taking into account that up to the submission of the present work there are no published information on the occurrence of the species in the DDBR, Podarcis muralis was not included into the Red List of DDBR, even if one of the target plots of the current national project for monitoring of the Species of Community Interest, where assessment of the Podarcis muralis populations was planned (even if based on old, in a certain degree also unreliable record), includes some part of the DDBR (the plot from Bestepe Hills, indicated by the tip of arrow A in Fig. 30).

Fig. 29. Areas proposed for assessment of Ablepharus kitaibelii Fig. 30. Areas proposed for assessment of Podarcis muralis populations (modified after Fig. 10.B from page 42 of [82]). populations (modified after Fig. 8.B from page 40 of [82]). Note. grey squares – sites proposed for monitoring of Ablepharus Note. grey squares – sites proposed for monitoring of Podarcis muralis kitaibelii populations; white squares – sites proposed for monitoring of populations; white squares – sites proposed for monitoring of other other Species of Community Interest; tip of arrow A points to the Species of Community Interest; tip of arrow A points to the monitoring monitoring plot that includes Bestepe Hills and some part of the DDBR. plot that includes Bestepe Hills and some part of the DDBR; tip of arrow B ponts to the monitoring plot that includes Histria ruins.

Fig. 31. Areas proposed for assessment of Eryx jaculus Fig. 32. Areas proposed for assessment of Elaphe populations (modified after Fig. 19.B from page 51 of [82]). (quatuorlineata) sauromates populations (modified after Fig. Note. grey squares – sites proposed for monitoring of Eryx jaculus 14.B from page 46 of [82]). populations; white squares – sites proposed for monitoring of other Note. grey squares – sites proposed for monitoring of Elaphe Species of Community Interest; A - monitoring plot from Bestepe Hills; (quatuorlineata) sauromates populations; white squares – sites proposed B - monitoring plot on Letea marine levee; C – monitoring plot in for monitoring of other Species of Community Interest; A - monitoring Cernavoda-Cochirleni area; D – monitoring plot in Baneasa area; E - plot from Histria area; B - monitoring plot on Sfântu Gheorghe area monitoring plot in Islaz area; F – Dăbuleni; G - monitoring plot nearby Dăbuleni; H – Radovan; G - monitoring plot nearby Radovan. d). Eryx jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Although in a paper Eryx jaculus was reported as species occurring in the DDBR [70]. (respectively, on Letea marine levee – see the plot indicated by the tip of arrow B in Fig. 31), the respective record was based on misidentification (probably a Natrix sp. specimen being identified by mistake as Eryx jaculus specimen) [60]. Up to the submission of the present work there are no published and reliable information on the occurrence of the species in the DDBR. Consequently, Eryx jaculus was not included into the Red List of DDBR. According to various sources, Eryx jaculus occurs at Beștepe Hills [72] (see B in Fig. 31), Cernavodă [27] and Cochirleni [16] areas (see C in Fig. 31), Cărpiniș-Giuvegea (practically, Băneasa area) [27] (see D in Fig. 31), Islaz [9] (see E in Fig. 31), Dăbuleni [78] (F in Fig. 31) and Radovan [78] (H in Fig. 31). Although the information on the occurence of Eryx jaculus in the later two areas (Dăbuleni and Radovan) seems to not be based on reliable field-data, in the frame of the current current national project for monitoring of the Species of Community Interest there were included monitoring-plots nearby the two above mentioned localities (the tip of arrow G in Fig. 31 indicates the monitoring plot nearby Dăbuleni, meanwhile the tip of arrow I in Fig.

L-ISSN: 1842 - 614X 31 www-address of the journal: http://www.ddni.ro/index.php?page_id=194&siteSection=6§ionTitle=Scientific%20Annals Scientific Annals of the Danube Delta Institute Tulcea, Romania vol. 20 2014

31 indicates the monitoring plot nearby Radovan), even if only between Islaz (E in Fig. 31) and Dăbuleni (F in Fig. 31) are bigger chances to be identified further Eryx jaculus populations (e.g. nearby localities from the Danube valley, as Corabia, Gârcov). e). Elaphe (quatuorlineata) sauromates

Although in a paper Elaphe (quatuorlineata) sauromates was reported as species occurring in the DDBR at Histria ruins [32] (see the plot indicated by the tip of arrow A in Fig. 32) and at Sfântu Gheorghe area (see the plot indicated by the tip of arrow B in Fig. 32) [79], both reports are based on unreliable records [60]. Taking into account that up to the submission of the present work there are no published information on the occurrence of the species in the DDBR, Elaphe (quatuorlineata) sauromates was not included into the Red List of DDBR, even if one of the target plots of the current national project for monitoring of the Species of Community Interest, where assessment of the Elaphe (quatuorlineata) sauromates populations was planned, includes some part of the DDBR (the plot from Histria, indicated by the tip of arrow A in Fig. 32), due to the fact that on the mainland, in sites close to Histria area there were recent records of Elaphe (quatuorlineata) sauromates [55].

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results of researches carried out since 2000 and taking into account the developments related to criteria for conservation status of wild species, in the present work there were provided details to consider the reptile species as having the following conservation status in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve: - Critically endangered: for one species: Vipera ursinii; - Threatened: for one species: Eremias arguta, - Vulnerable: for 6 species: Testudo graeca, Emys orbicularis, Lacerta trilineata, Coluber caspius, Coronella austriaca and Natrix tessellata; - Least Concern: for 4 species: Lacerta agilis, Lacerta viridis, Podarcis tauricus and Natrix natrix.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Some of the analyses (of whose results were included into the present work) were performed in the frame of the following projects: - ”Evaluarea herpetofaunei din R.B.D.D. și elaborarea Atlasului amfibienilor și reptilelor din R.B.D.D.” (proiect code: PN 09 26 09 02; contract No. 26N / 2009, developed in 2009 – 2011 by the Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development – Tulcea, with financial support of the National Authority for Scientific Research (Ministry of Education and Research); -”Starea actuală a Rezervaţiei Biosferei Delta Dunării” (proiect code: PN 09 26 01 07; contract No. 26N / 2009, developed in 2013 by the Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development – Tulcea, with financial support of the National Authority for Scientific Research (Ministry of National Education).

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Manuscript received: 14 II. 2014 / Peer-reviewed: IV. – V. 2014 / Accepted: VI. 2014 / On-line: VI. 2014 / Printed: XII. 2014

L-ISSN: 1842 - 614X 34 www-address of the journal: http://www.ddni.ro/index.php?page_id=194&siteSection=6§ionTitle=Scientific%20Annals